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Description
Clifford the Big Red Dog is an eponymously titled American children's book series about a big red dog named Clifford. It was first published in 1963 and was written by Norman Bridwell (1928-2014). The series helped establish Scholastic Books as a premier publishing company, and Clifford himself is Scholastic's official mascot.

Clifford was the runt of a litter of puppies and was chosen by a city child named Emily Elizabeth as her birthday present. No one expected him to grow, but Emily's love for her tiny red puppy changed him dramatically. Before long, he was over 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, forcing the Howard family to leave the city and move to the open spaces of Birdwell Island. He met friends there including, Cleo, Mac, and T-Bone.

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Norman Ray Bridwell (February 15, 1928 – December 12, 2014) was an American author and cartoonist best known for the Clifford the Big Red Dog series of children's books.

Bridwell was born in 1928 in Kokomo, Indiana, to Leona and Vern Bridwell. He graduated from Kokomo High School in 1945, and went on to attend John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, and Cooper Union, in New York City.

By 1962, Bridwell was married to his wife Norma Howard, and they had an infant daughter Emily Elizabeth, as well as a son named Timothy. At the time of his death, they had three grandchildren.

Bridwell put together a portfolio and attempted to get a job as a children's book illustrator but was rejected by around fifteen publishing houses. While at Harper & Row, an editor offhandedly suggested he turn one of his drawings into a story. The drawing was of a baby girl and a horse-sized bloodhound, and the story became Clifford The Big Red Dog. That book spawned over 40 best-selling Clifford books, two television series, merchandise, and a live musical.

Bridwell's other successful books include The Witch Next Door, and A Tiny Family. There are over 126 million copies of his books in print in 13 languages.

The Bridwells resided on Martha's Vineyard, from 1969 until his death.

Bridwell died on December 12, 2014, at the age of 86.

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Clifford: a male red dog whose appearance, disposition, and behavior are based on a giant "all-around" dog. Friendly, outgoing and helpful. He sometimes gets into trouble because of his size or is tempted into trouble by his friends and those he meets. His size, like giants in medieval legends, is inconsistent—he is often shown as being about 25 feet tall from paws to head, but can appear far larger: in one episode he removes the top of the lighthouse and swims out with it to guide the ferry through the fog to the dock. The character's name is based on the imaginary childhood friend of creator Norman Bridwell's wife. His owner is Emily Elizabeth, to whom he is devoted. He has a mother, two brothers, and two sisters. His character was created when an editor at Harper & Row advised Bridwell to write a story to go along with one of his pictures. She picked out his sketch of a baby girl and a horse-sized bloodhound and casually said, "There might be a story in this," Bridwell remembers.

Emily Elizabeth: Clifford's owner. A friendly, curious, and helpful eight year-old girl. She is frequently portrayed riding on his bareback. She is the best skater on the island, and is also very good at soccer. She was named for creator Norman Bridwell's daughter and based on the imaginary adventures of Bridwell's wife.

Description
Clifford the Big Red Dog is an eponymously titled American children's book series about a big red dog named Clifford. It was first published in 1963 and was written by Norman Bridwell (1928-2014). The series helped establish Scholastic Books as a premier publishing company, and Clifford himself is Scholastic's official mascot.

Clifford was the runt of a litter of puppies and was chosen by a city child named Emily Elizabeth as her birthday present. No one expected him to grow, but Emily's love for her tiny red puppy changed him dramatically. Before long, he was over 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, forcing the Howard family to leave the city and move to the open spaces of Birdwell Island. He met friends there including, Cleo, Mac, and T-Bone.

-----

Norman Ray Bridwell (February 15, 1928 – December 12, 2014) was an American author and cartoonist best known for the Clifford the Big Red Dog series of children's books.

Bridwell was born in 1928 in Kokomo, Indiana, to Leona and Vern Bridwell. He graduated from Kokomo High School in 1945, and went on to attend John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, and Cooper Union, in New York City.

By 1962, Bridwell was married to his wife Norma Howard, and they had an infant daughter Emily Elizabeth, as well as a son named Timothy. At the time of his death, they had three grandchildren.

Bridwell put together a portfolio and attempted to get a job as a children's book illustrator but was rejected by around fifteen publishing houses. While at Harper & Row, an editor offhandedly suggested he turn one of his drawings into a story. The drawing was of a baby girl and a horse-sized bloodhound, and the story became Clifford The Big Red Dog. That book spawned over 40 best-selling Clifford books, two television series, merchandise, and a live musical.

Bridwell's other successful books include The Witch Next Door, and A Tiny Family. There are over 126 million copies of his books in print in 13 languages.

The Bridwells resided on Martha's Vineyard, from 1969 until his death.

Bridwell died on December 12, 2014, at the age of 86.

-----

Clifford: a male red dog whose appearance, disposition, and behavior are based on a giant "all-around" dog. Friendly, outgoing and helpful. He sometimes gets into trouble because of his size or is tempted into trouble by his friends and those he meets. His size, like giants in medieval legends, is inconsistent—he is often shown as being about 25 feet tall from paws to head, but can appear far larger: in one episode he removes the top of the lighthouse and swims out with it to guide the ferry through the fog to the dock. The character's name is based on the imaginary childhood friend of creator Norman Bridwell's wife. His owner is Emily Elizabeth, to whom he is devoted. He has a mother, two brothers, and two sisters. His character was created when an editor at Harper & Row advised Bridwell to write a story to go along with one of his pictures. She picked out his sketch of a baby girl and a horse-sized bloodhound and casually said, "There might be a story in this," Bridwell remembers.

Emily Elizabeth: Clifford's owner. A friendly, curious, and helpful eight year-old girl. She is frequently portrayed riding on his bareback. She is the best skater on the island, and is also very good at soccer. She was named for creator Norman Bridwell's daughter and based on the imaginary adventures of Bridwell's wife.